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NEC Australia wins major Solomon Islands microwave backhaul deal

*** For immediate use November 11, 2014

Melbourne and Tokyo, 11 November 2014 - NEC Corporation and NEC Australia, a leading technology solutions and services company, have announced that NEC Australia's microwave radio technology will be deployed in three of the largest provinces of the Solomon Island Territory to boost mobile and fixed line broadband capacity.

Solomon Telekom Company Limited (STCL), the major full service carrier of the Solomon Islands and branded as Our Telekom, has selected NEC Australia's iPasolink IP microwave transmission technology as the core of a major network upgrade that will support over 100 base stations in the territory and extend the reach of their domestic fixed network services. The microwave backhaul deployment will significantly improve fixed line and mobile broadband speeds across three key provinces.

Following a competitive tender, Our Telekom, selected NEC Australia to supply its microwave backhaul network. Additionally, NEC will provide ongoing training and design services to Our Telekom engineers and deliver a state of the art network management platform.

"Our Telekom is committed to connecting and delivering better fixed line and mobile broadband services to consumers, schools and businesses throughout the Solomon Islands, no matter how remote they are," said Keir Preedy, Chief Operating Officer, Our Telekom.

"This project is a key investment to grow the reach of broadband services and allow greater participation in the dramatic speed and latency benefits that will come with the future submarine cable. NEC Australia demonstrated that the network could be deployed within a tight schedule and budget," said Mr Preedy.

"Further to proposing the best technical solution with highest transmit power hence the smallest antenna size to meet our unique weather and tower loading conditions, we valued NEC's high level of competence in providing network design and training for our engineers that will ensure we have the skills to maintain the network in future," Mr Preedy added.

Our Telekom will initially deploy the NEC solution in three main provinces of the Solomon Islands, with plans for future expansion to other provinces. The NEC microwave backhaul systems will boost capacity to base stations in Malaita Province, one of the largest regions in the territory; Honiara Province, the Solomon Islands' capital on Guadalcanal Island; and Western Province, which encompasses several islands.

In Malaita, NEC will supply and install backhaul links with an initial 500 Mbps capacity that is upgradable to 1Gbps with software license, and a large number of last mile links that will initially deliver 50-100Mbps and connect to its existing and new base stations.

"NEC is a leader in microwave systems and we're proud our technology will be at the heart of fixed line and mobile services in the Solomon Islands. We believe our proposal, supported by NEC's class leading high capacity iPASOLINK microwave radios, offers Our Telekom the best opportunity to achieve a cost-effective and rapid deployment," said Dave Cooke, Group Manager, Social Infrastructure, NEC Australia.

NEC, a recognized innovator in microwave systems, with the only sub-band free ODU solution, earlier this year expanded its iPASOLINK family of outdoor radio equipment for access and aggregation with the iPASOLINK IX, a compact radio system that helps 4G mobile network operators to rapidly expand network capacity to better meet demand from consumer and enterprise adoption of high bandwidth applications.

NEC's microwave solutions will be central to Our Telekom's operations over the next 10 years and will provide terrestrial fixed network capacity to carry low latency IP services for future submarine or satellite systems connecting the Solomon Islands to the rest of the world.

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About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company's experience and global resources, NEC's advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at www.nec.com

About NEC AustraliaNEC Australia is a leading technology company, delivering a complete portfolio of ICT solutions and services to large enterprise, small business and government organisations. We deliver innovative solutions to help customers gain greater business value from their technology investments.

NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All rights reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. (C) 2014 NEC Corporation.

About Our TelekomOur Telekom is the brand name of Solomon telekom Company Limited (STCL). STCL is a truly Solomon Islands company, being majority owned by the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) along with a small shareholding for the Government Investment corporation of the Solomon Islands (ICSI) . STCL is the dominant full service carrier in the Solomon Islands, offering mobile, fixed, internet, business services and free to air television through a sister subsidiary. Telekom Television Limited (TtL). STCL's aim is to transform the lives of Solomon Islanders through technology and coverage while developing national capability and skills.